Strawberry Cheesecake Pound Cake

1. Prepare the Pound Cake:

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the sour cream and milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Make the Strawberry Sauce:

In a small saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes, or until the strawberries have broken down and the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

3. Make the Cheesecake Filling:

In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Add the heavy cream and beat until the mixture thickens to a cheesecake-like consistency, about 2-3 minutes.

4. Assemble the Cake:

Once the pound cake has cooled completely, slice it into thick slices.
Spread a layer of the cheesecake filling on top of each slice of cake.
Spoon a generous amount of the strawberry sauce over the cheesecake filling and top with additional fresh strawberry slices, if desired.

5. Serve and Enjoy:

Serve the strawberry cheesecake pound cake slices with extra strawberry sauce on the side. This cake is perfect for dessert or as a special treat for gatherings!

For extra strawberry flavor, you can swirl some of the strawberry sauce into the batter before baking.
If you want a richer cheesecake layer, you can double the cheesecake filling recipe.

This Strawberry Cheesecake Pound Cake will be a hit with anyone who loves a creamy, fruity, and delicious dessert!